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MLN Connects newsletter banner Special Edition Friday, April 14, 2017 ________________________________________________________________________ *CMS Proposes 2018 Payment and Policy Updates for Medicare Hospital Admissions, Releases a Request for Information* Proposed rule seeks transparency, flexibility, program simplification and innovation to transform the Medicare program On April 14, CMS issued a proposed rule [ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/04/28/2017-07800/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-systems-for-acute-care-hospitals-and-the ] that would update 2018 Medicare payment and polices when patients are admitted into hospitals. The proposed rule aims to relieve regulatory burdens for providers; supports the patient-doctor relationship in health care; and promotes transparency, flexibility, and innovation in the delivery of care. Through this proposed rule we want to reduce burdens for hospitals so they can focus on providing high quality care for patients, said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. Medicare is better able to support the work of dedicated hospitals and clinicians who provide the care that people need with these more flexible and simplified approaches. CMS is committed to transforming the health care delivery system and the Medicare program by putting a strong focus on patient-centered care, so providers can direct their time and resources to patients and improve outcomes. In addition to the payment and policy proposals, CMS is releasing a Request for Information to solicit ideas for regulatory, policy, practice and procedural changes to better achieve transparency, flexibility, program simplification and innovation. This will inform the discussion on future regulatory action related to inpatient and long-term hospitals. In relieving providers of administrative burdens and encouraging patient choice, CMS is proposing: * a one year regulatory moratorium on the payment policy threshold for patient admissions in long-term care hospitals while CMS continues to evaluate long-term care hospital policies * to reduce clinical quality measure reporting requirements for hospitals that have implemented electronic health records Due to the combination of proposed payment rate increases and other proposed policies and payment adjustments, CMS projects that hospitals would see a total increase in inpatient operating prospective payments of 2.9 percent in fiscal year 2018. CMS also projects that, based on the changes included in the proposed rule, payments to long-term care hospitals would decrease by approximately 3.75 percent in fiscal year 2018. For More Information: * Full text of this excerpted CMS press release [ https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2017-Press-releases-items/2017-04-14.html ] (issued April 14) * CMS fact sheet [ https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-04-14.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending ] ________________________________________________________________________ Like theeNews? Have suggestions? Please let us know! [ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017MLNConnects ] ________________________________________________________________________ The Medicare Learning Network, MLN Connects, and MLN Matters areregistered trademarks of theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Medicare Learning Network Please share this important information with yourcolleagues and encourage them tosubscribe [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/new?pop=t&topic_id=USCMS_7819 ].Previous issues are available in thearchive [ http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/FFSProvPartProg/Provider-Partnership-Email-Archive.html ]. Twitter [ https://twitter.com/CMSGov ] YouTube [ http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaV7m2-zFKpihHxb4AiWNjbsIUUKCGljK ] ________________________________________________________________________ You're getting this message because you subscribed to get email updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) [ http://www.cms.gov/ ]. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ https://public-dc2.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/new?preferences=true ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/ ]. This service is provided to you at no charge by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) [ http://www.cms.gov ]. ________________________________________________________________________ This email was sent to archive@mail-archive.com using GovDelivery, 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore MD 21244
